Spring has sprung

THE SUN STILL SHINES by Sea Dean

Somehow in all the confusion and life changing events of CoVid 19, the start of spring has gone whistling by. I didn't ever hear any of the reporters mention it. Apparently the start of spring in the northern hemisphere is March 1st and the Astronomical start was Thursday, March 19, 11:50 am Eastern Daylight time. That would be 2:50pm where I live and according to my schedule I was busy working on an emergency phone list if I succumb.

However I discovered it was spring when a group of Canada Geese flew in for a quick dip in my creek. They make an almighty racket so its hard to miss them. Some of the noises really do sound like the honking of an 18 wheeler horn. 

Stay home, Stay safe

COLLAGE of 30 Day Challenge

IMAGE GUESSING COMPETITION WINNERS BELOW...

Four people managed to find the way to my blog or FB Messaging and send me some guesses for the photo below. Of course if you made it to the blog the answer was in the title, but kudos for putting in the effort. Out of four people three made two guesses, so I have seven answers to choose between. There were two correct guesses and five very creative.

Laurelle Cidoncha and Christine Brooks guessed correctly, that it was the dregs of my morning coffee, so you get joint first prize.
Sheila Delgado with Marshmellow Moonglow and
Corinne Bekker with Tolkeins Moria Mountain, both get a prize for most creative.

So you all win! PM me your addresses and your gifts will be on their way.

DAY 30 of 30 LAKE MORNING

LAKE MORNING (final) by Sea Dean 11x9 inches Watercolour and Graphite

 This was painted on competition paper that I don't usually use. It has a creamy look but not as cream as the images show. I’ve tried to lighten it, but when I do I lose the true colours of the painting which are beautiful. The graphite is also hard to photograph, but it shows quite well in this closeup. I really like the effect.

Final day of the challenge. Stay tuned for the collage of my submissions tomorrow.

 30DCG2020  and ODP

DAY 28 of 30 - TWIN CIRCLE NEST final version

It was tough resisting the urge to ring the nest with leaves, but I managed to pull myself away. To be honest I can’t figure out which way around I should mount this. I think the two on the right are my favorites, but that may change. I find that usually when I have this difficulty I end up choosing the way up that it was painted. What do you think?

I would be quite happy to keep this one, but at least I can enjoy it before it sells. I will have to find a spot for it. I will be posting it for sale on Artfinder ASAP.

30DCG2020  and ODP

DAY 25 of 30 - SPRING GOLDFINCH

SPRING GOLDFINCH 8 x 10 inch 

Almost the final version. I see some datk patches in upper right to eliminate and he needs a whiter dot in his eye. I should get to that today and then he will be posted for sale on ARTFINDER

30DCG2020  and ODP

DAY 24 of 30 - SPRING GOLDFINCH

Spring Goldfinch by Sea Dean 8 x 10 inch

Sorry about the quality of this image, it was late and dark when I finished and I couldn’t get the colours right. I will post a better one in the morning. I’ve been working on this on and off for a couple of years and it’s time for the little guy to fly away. Still have a few touch ups, but pretty close.

DAY 15 of 30 - FLUTTERBY BIRDHOUSE

FLUTTERBY BIRDHOUSE by Sea Dean

I went to the ballet last night and took Valentines night off. The music and dancers were incredible and when I came home I just wanted to relax and relive the evening.

Today I worked on two more birdhouses. This one has under crackle of royal blue with blue glitter, White sparkly polymer butterflies and bronze acrylic paint over cream and grey chalk paint. So much nicer than it looks here.

30DCG2020 and ODP

DAY 14 of 30 - BEE LODGE in Progress

BEE LODGE by Sea Dean (Available by contacting me)

A work in progress. I have to wait for the crackle to develop before I wax and add details. The brownish looking painting is actually Golden Fine Copper Acrylic. The crackle roof has fine red undercoat and the rest is Chalk Paint.

The grey chalk paint is an experiment with powdered paint that you mix with water. I find its grittier and the pigment tends to separate, so needs constant mixing. Other chalk paint I use is Folk Art which has some interesting colors, and Canadian made Cottage Paint which is very nice quality and a different color selection.

I’m understanding how to make large cracks now, but it’s not easy, and always a surprise. I’m considering adding these to my next solo exhibition as they will go well with my proposed natural wood theme. I don't have a date yet, but as spring is fast approaching I’d better get my skates on.

30DCG2020  and 30DODP

DAY 12 of 30 - BIRDHOUSE BLING in Progress

One of the things I love most about the 30 Day Creative Gathering on Facebook is that anything goes. It was set up for creators of every level and any media. Thats why today my entry is a birdhouse. We are encouraged to either complete, or work on something every day and it is very motivating and social.

This is not a fine art birdhouse, it is for regular home decor and will sell under my COUNTRY GIRL brand. At the moment the back and sides are a little bland, so I will probably add more. The front is finished and ready for move in. The spotty bits on the eves and base are sparkly jewels although they don't show up well here.

For sale by contacting me through email or comments. I have three more in process if you would like a set.

30DCG2020 - ODP

Day 10 of 30 - WHITE MORNING

WHITE MORNING by Sea Dean 10” x 10” 

Available at Artfinder http://www.artfinder.com/sea-dean

DAY 9 of 30 - MY CUP RUNNETH OVER

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER - Coffee Series I - Digital Image by Sea Dean

Isn’t this great? Can you guess what it is?

I often use photography as inspiration for my art. Sometimes I use it as a guide for a landscape, other times I play with colors in photo apps to find new combinations, yet others I go macro or aerial for abstract inspiration and sometimes I take the image into a drawing app like Notes and embellish with one finger drawing. I’m not sure how I will use this yet, but the image blows me away.

Have you guessed yet?

It’s the dregs in the bottom of my morning coffee cup. However, I see birds, a cat, dancers, a burning cauldron, witches, trees, a champagne glass and much much more. I think it’s beautiful. Did you know that in the middle east there are seers that read coffee dregs like we read tea leaves and I’d be very interested to see what they say about this.

What do you think it means?

30DCG2020 - ODP

DAY 8 of 30 - GOLDEN CIRCLE Work in Progress

Work in progress

I’m still adding to this painting, but it’s very close to being done now.

The poor rabbit on the bottom left has been about five colors already and I’m still not sure he will stay beige. I’ve moved the copper wire tree to emphasize the black shadow, which was part of my original vision. The compositional balance is better now. I found another bluebird appliqué and added a mushroom which grounds the energy a bit. I also added more outline to the appliques.

This work is such a departure for me, so light, pretty and fey. Every applied piece is picked out in interference paint which changes color subtlety as you walk by, so it catches your eye.

I’m resisting the urge to paint very light blue sky in the background. What do you think?

30DCG2020 - ODP

DAY 7 of 30 - WHITE MORNING Work in Progress

WHITE MORNING by Sea Dean 10”:x 10” wrap canvas

DAY 7 - White Morning by Sea Dean 

I worked on this painting a bit today. I like it much better now. The birds are circling on early morning thermals; I don’t know if they can experience joy, but it seems like they are having fun. Maybe I've overdone the bronze, but it is a type of acrylic paint which patinas, (Golden Bronze) so it will soften with time. The birds are in paint pen, but I think I would prefer Liquitex Flow with a rigger. I also see one tree trunk I still need to remove, can you spot it? 

The original is below and was crying out for adjustments, The white tree in front was odd and although the call was for a painting using only black and white, it was boring. I had added pearl white highlights but they didn't show up wll. The texture of many layers of heavy acrylic and gels was its only saving grace.

www.paintamasterpiece.blogspot.comwww.artfinder.com/sea-dean — in Kelowna, British Columbia.
30DCG2020 - ODP

DAY 6 of 30 - GOLDEN CIRCLE Work in Progress

This construction on canvas has been evolving over about a year. I wanted simplicity, but it begged for more and so now it is a mixed media sculpture.

GOLDEN CIRCLE by Sea Dean
Copper wire, acrylic, paint pen, texture, painted wood, iridescent acrylic, metal leaf. 24” x 24”

30DCG2020 - ODP

DAY 5 of 30 - ROLLING VINEYARD with Butterfly - THE CUTE FACTOR

ROLLING VINEYARD WITH BUTTERFLY by Sea Dean

DUCKY by Sea Dean

COUNTRY MOUSE by Sea Dean

I find myself doing this too, I skim through hundreds of artworks on the internet and stop at very few. What stops me and makes me take another look could be an interesting composition, a curious technique or a stunningly real portrait, landscape, or still life, but what really gets me, is cute. And I constantly see this with my own work when I take part in a show, drifters remark on a variety of work, but what they are really compelled to buy are my animals, birds and butterflies; the cuter, the better.

by Sea Dean

MONCHO by Sea Dean

I totally admire artists that create cute effortlessly. With my animals the form is no different to painting or drawing any other subject matter, but the cute factor takes me forever to produce. Cuteness is often conveyed by elongating or squashing the body or humanizing by adding clothes or accessories like a human being. Beatrix Potter and A. A. Milne were experts at this. Often the cuteness is in the expression and particularly in the eyes. I find that with all my pet and human portraits I spend at least 10 to 20 times longer on the eyes than I do on the rest of the painting. A tiny speck of reflected light can make the difference between boring and interesting.

A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE by Sea Dean

KITTY by Sea Dean

Some of these originals are still available by clicking on the links. As with all art the artist retains the copyright, so once I have sold the original, I create limited edition prints. Therefore if you love my work there are opportunities at every price point. I am gradually adding limited editions to my Artfinder collection here, but if you don't see the one you like please contact me by commenting or clicking my email link. Or simply commission me to paint your own pet.

30DCG2020 - ODP

Day 4 of 30 - LAKE MORNING and Oscar Feedback?

Josephine has left home and my thoughts have been drawn to my next victim, sorry, project. Since acquiring this manikin over a year ago, he has been known as “Oscar”. I think he got the name because he has a hint of the movie award about him. He is big and beautiful, exuding a strong but peaceful aura. I often give him a hug (at 6 ft 2 inches and 33 inch waist he is the perfect size).

I have two ideas rocketing around my head...

1. Josephine sported many quotes from famous artists, so to add Oscar as part of the series I could cover him in the top 100 movie titles, famous actors and movie quotes such as “I’ll be back” TERMINATOR, Arnold Schwarzenegger - “Raindrops on Roses” THE SOUND OF MUSIC Julie Andrews or “Frankly my dear I don’t give a damn” GONE WITH THE WIND Clark Gable. Another option is to stick with Oscar winning movies and stars.

2. Alternately, his white base paint is just crying out to be covered in traditional Maori tattoos with no text except my signature.

As my main market is south, I think #1 would be more attractive to buyers and I like that it continues the series, but is all over text too much? (Josephine had text and abstract painting). Another question is that if I go with #1, should I paint his skin gold, which is tricky and currently not super trendy? I love the look of black or grey writing on white, but should I write in gold??? It’s a quandary, but if it’s #1 I should market him during Oscar season which starts soon, so he needs to get underway now! Also I cant leave him in his briefs for ever, or can I?

HELP! Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Please comment below.

DAY 4 - LAKE MORNING Work in Progress
Note that I photographed the color version to show the silvery additions of graphite pencil, in the birds, water and distant landscape. The pencil line is blackish, but glistens silvery in raked light. I’ve never done this before, but I love the effect.

LAKE MORNING (watercolour and graphite) by Sea Dean

LAKE MORNING (noir print) 

LAKE MORNING (in incandescent light)

 30DG2020 - ODP

Day 3 of 30 - SILVERY NEST

SILVERY NEST by Sea Dean

This sweet two tone nest with bird is about 5” across. I’ve displayed it with NEST FOR THREE from earlier in the week to show the difference in size. The bird is crafted from polymer and feathers. I will include the acorns for shipping within Canada, but I don’t think I can ship them over a border as they are real. I think the sculpture is just as good without. The purchaser could always collect some natural objects of their own.

Steel, copper, polymer and feather.
Available in my Artfinder shop artfinder.com/sea-dean

 30DG2020 - ODP

SILVERY NEST a and NEST FOR THREE by Sea Dean

Created on 02/02/2020 a rare eight-digit palindrome (reads same, forward and backward) the only one of its kind this century.

The previous eight-digit palindrome was 11/11/1111, 909 years ago.

We have to wait another 101 years for 12/12/2121

CAT VIII

Artfinder has just informed me that my one finger drawing CAT VIII has been included in their PICASSO collection https://www.artfinder.com/staff-picks/pablo-picasso/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=selfservice_featured_in_marketing 

I have many more one finger drawings in my Artfinder shop that I would perhaps consider more Piccasso like, but this cat is supet cute, he’s still on the lookout for mice even when sleeping

More can be seen and purchased via my Artfinder Gallery www.artfindet.com/sea-dean

If you don't see the size you’re looking for, I can print a limited edition in various sizes or even take a commission to turn the drawing into a large painting.

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GOLDEN LIGHT - DAY 30 - 30 in 30

Another of my dawn images. A gloomy day, but for a split second the sun came through the low clouds and illuminated these Canada Geese on their morning parade. It was chilly out and although I wrapped myself in a throw I caught a chill. Luckily its only a light cold, but I must be more wary.

And thats a wrap! The 30 Day Creative Gathering is over till next time. There’s talk of possibly February 2020 for a second meet. Its a great way to get organized and focused on creation. It helps to have a plan, which this time I didn’t but as photography was allowed and I take at least 50 a day, it made it easier for me.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to follow the link to my blog and even better, those that chose to follow me. Thanks also to all the wonderful comments I’ve received over on the Facebook Group. I look forward to next time.

Tomorrow I will show all the work I created this month, so stay tuned.

SOLITUDE - Day 12 - 30 in 30 Challenge

This is a digital image to which I have added some color and a bird for interest. It displays the simplicity that I’m always trying to capture in my art. This is also one that will make its way into my Artfinder gallery soon. www.artfinder.com/sea-dean